Must. Have. Mojitos! This is what you will be chanting all week as you pull the happy dance, waiting for the weekend brunch time to arrive at this Cuban and Mexican inspired restaurant! That is, if you can even wait til then – you might want to go here for dinner during the week as well! Seriously – they are that good here! You'll want to make sure you bring a mirror with you too, because the mint is crushed fresh, leaving lots of leafy goodness stuck in your teeth! But hey – who cares! You'll be savoring its cool flavor all day long.
Cafe 28 does things a little bit different than other Hispanic places around the city. They cater the menu around Gringos like myself and do a pretty good job of it, but without compromising true, authentic flavor: an ideal, mixed marriage that birthed a beautiful child! The décor is charming in its rustic glory, and the patio is nice to hang out in when the weather cooperates. The overall vibe is just so friendly and upbeat and the prices are so reasonable that I doubt I could ever have a complaint here.
The first thing folks will discover is the garlic flavored butter in the bread baskets. I swear you can eat this all by itself! Fried plantains make a nice change of pace from fries or chips, the seafood is incredibly fresh and the beef and pork selections are falling off the bone tender – they slow cook it for hours and hours. Even their version’s of American breakfast food is simply awesome! What's more, everything is spiced just right, and not just a bunch of heat over powering the food itself.
What works for me is the wait never seems to be all that bad, even at their busiest. Getting a table isn't a big deal, waiting for food isn't painful, and getting refills or the check won't cause any finer tapping or frantic hand waving. Also the decibel level is pretty fair, even at brunch with other people's kids in tow, which gets big kudos from me. My only regret is not being able to frequent this place more often.
Okay, okay! I know! It’s high time I made special mention of my most favorite record store in the entire world: a store that isn’t afraid to say it like it is, throw up the horns and shout “Slay-ARRRGHHH!“ for no particular reason and revel in all that is Blasphemous! (Yes, with a capital B!!) If you want Metal in all its guises, then this is the number one place to shop! And hey: what other store is out there where you can walk in and score a CD that has such a truly gruesome album cover your Aunt Maggie will shrivel up and die from a mere glance?
People come here from literally every corner of the Earth to tap this blackened treasure trove, and in fact some couples have even gotten married here! Whether you’re looking for some classic Thrash, Death Metal, Black Metal or just about anything else, there is a very distinct possibility you will find that rare obscurity here. Just don’t go asking around for a Slipknot CD unless you really want to be pummeled in the back alley, as Nu is expressly denied! (I’m just joking, but really - they really hate that stuff!)
CDs are categorized accordingly, making your trip a true experience to write home about! My favorite section is the “Brutal Sh*t” department, because I’m that rubber necking type that can’t help but slow down the Interstate for a good, gory crash scene! And now that they’ve relocated from Hipster Central, the store is so much bigger, cleaner and easier to navigate around. And yes, all Hail the Dark Lord, because street parking is no longer an issue!
Besides CDs, folks can find tons of killer shirts, along with themed books and accessories. Local bands are more than welcome to hit up Mark about setting up a consignment deal and leaving their flyers with him, as he really cares about taking care of the scene. Be prepared to spend a couple hours here, because once you get him talking about his life’s calling, it can be pretty hard to steer towards the door. In fact, I’m surprised they don’t just have a door guy collecting a cover charge, because no one leaves here without at least dropping a twenty!
Usually a first stop for many north side pub crawls, Laschet's Inn serves up some great brews and fantastic authentic German food bigger than the Black Forest itself!
German natives and locals agree, this is by far the best German tavern and restaurant in town. While tourist drawing, leder hosen donning Oompa bands may not frequent on a nightly basis or have an overall Beerfest mentality like the Lincoln Square Brau Haus, Laschet's Inn, located just a block down the street from the St. Ben's clock tower, serves up large portions of great authentic food with brews to match!
Walking in the front door of this otherwise unassuming neighborhood tavern tends to stir an image of a bygone era of Chicago bars, complete with double swinging doors, creeky steps, solid dark wood paneling and simple decorations. This is clearly Bavaria. It isn't exactly the most trendy of spots, but the comfort level shoots through the roof, with fair lighting to accommodate light, friendly encounters.
For those who have never booked a flight out to Frankfort can walk away with a sense of being there, from the encased steins decorating the walls, to the food and its seasonal brew counterparts. The bar staff is known for giving out comp'ed shots, so a designated driver is a necessity! The bottled list is almost entirely German, so those looking for a cheap, kitschy PBR is sorely out of luck. On tap includes brands folks may have a hard time pronouncing but go down oh so smoothly.
Go up a level and have a great meal, with tables covered with red and white checkered vinyl cloths. Daily specials rotate nightly, though the wiener schnitzels, brat wursts and thuringers are the top orders. Potato salad and surprisingly tasty saur kraut sides are naturally the German variety, and the dense, dark Lithuanian rye bread served is very hearty and matches well with any meal. Of course, no German menu would be complete without a home made apple strudel dessert, which they make superbly! Every meal is created from secret family recipes, each simply superb in its own right.
In fact, the food here is praised as being better than any of its Milwaukee counterparts. A word of warning comes to those wanting speedy service, as good food takes time to prepare. No worries though, as it gives guests a chance to catch up over a stein of good beer while the hunger grows, making room for the enormous portions!
Don’t let the newspaper-themed and reasonably priced menu deceive you: Chicago Joe's cuts out on all of the fluff and only offers the best the city has to offer! With its shoot from the hip slogans and their famous raw oysters, this trendy location that literally screams Chicago and is sure to make any night a Friday night out!
As expected by natives, world famous Joe’s aims to please with its gut busting portions and decadent flavors. Besides the fall off the bone ribs and incredible Italian sausages, guests are treated to giant burgers, homemade soups, and their popular Oysters Rockefeller. Even vegetarians will be pleasantly surprised to find a few items on the menu, like their veggie burgers and sides. Oh and yes, try the key lime pie for dessert, if there‘s room!
Also, be sure to check out their amazingly fresh brunch buffet on Sundays, which is quite possibly one of the best spreads in the city. Their eye opening Bloody Marys compliment just about everything available, from the fresh salmon to traditional breakfast standbys. Nobody leaves here hungry!
So, for out of towners and locals alike, Joe’s has something for everyone and encourages all of their new found friends to Vote (for Joe’s!) Early and Often!
Must. Have. Mojitos! This is what you will be chanting all week as you pull the happy dance, waiting for the weekend brunch time to arrive at this Cuban and Mexican inspired restaurant! That is, if you can even wait til then – you might want to go here for dinner during the week as well! Seriously – they are that good here! You'll want to make sure you bring a mirror with you too, because the mint is crushed fresh, leaving lots of leafy goodness stuck in your teeth! But hey – who cares! You'll be savoring its cool flavor all day long.
Usually a first stop for many north side pub crawls, Laschet's Inn serves up some great brews and fantastic authentic German food bigger than the Black Forest itself! 